Hair curling iron

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a hair curling iron. The hair curling iron of the present invention includes an iron body and a compression clip assembly. The iron body has a heating body having a bar shape with a circular cross-section, and a handle which is coupled to an end of the heating body. The compression clip assembly has a compression clip having an arc cross-section corresponding to an outer surface of the heating body. The compression clip assembly is coupled to the heating body such that the compression clip detachably contacts the outer surface of the heating body. The compression clip assembly further has a clip cover which is coupled to the compression clip such that a space is defined between the clip cover and the compression clip, and a clip heater which is inserted into the space defined between the clip cover and the compression clip. In the hair curling iron of the present invention, heat is transferred from a clip heater to the hair of a user through a compression clip, thus preventing excessive heat from being transferred to the user&#39;s hair, thereby preventing damage to the hair, enhancing the efficiency of the hair curling operation, and eliminating a safety hazard.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to hair curling irons and, more particularly, to a hair curling iron which compresses and heats the hair of a user to create a wave or curl in the user's hair.

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, hair curling irons have been widely used for creating waves in hair. Various kinds of hair curling irons have been developed. Of them, representative hair curling irons were proposed in Korean Utility Model Application No. 2001-27013, which was submitted in 2001 and entitled ‘HAIR IRON’, and in Korean Utility Model Application No. 2003-30715, which was submitted in 2003 and entitled ‘IRON HAVING PLATE-SHAPED HEATER’.

Each of the above-mentioned conventional hair curling irons includes an iron body having a bar shape with a circular cross-section, and a compression clip assembly which is coupled to and crosses the iron body.

The iron body has a heating body, and a handle which is longitudinally coupled to an end of the heating body.

Furthermore, a ceramic heater is installed in the heating body. A power wire, which passes through the handle, is connected to the ceramic heater to supply operating voltage to the ceramic heater.

Both a power switch and a temperature adjusting switch are provided on the handle.

The compression clip assembly has a compression clip and a push lever which are parallel to each other. The compression clip assembly further has a clip heating pad which is coupled to a surface of the compression clip, and a connection part which couples adjacent ends of the compression clip and the push lever to each other.

The connection part forms a closed loop so that an opening is defined at a central portion of the connection part by the closed loop.

The iron body is inserted in the opening of the connection part of the compression clip assembly having the above-mentioned construction. The compression clip assembly is coupled to the heating body of the iron body by a pair of coupling bolts and allows the compression clip to rotate towards and away from the heating body.

The usage of such a conventional hair curling iron will be explained herein below.

First, a user turns on the power switch to supply power to the ceramic heater. Then, the heating body is heated by the ceramic heater so that the temperature of the heating body is increased.

When the temperature of the heating body is increased to a desired temperature, the user places an appropriate amount of hair between the heating body and the compression clip.

Thereafter, the user manipulates the push lever such that the compression clip is brought into contact with the heating body.

Subsequently, the user maintains the compression clip, which contacts the heating body, and pulls the hair curling iron in a direction moving away from the user's head.

While the user pulls the hair curling iron in a direction moving away from the user's head, heat is transferred from both the ceramic heater and the clip heating pad to the clipped hairs under predetermined pressure applied by the compression clip, thus creating curls in the user's hair.

As such, because heat is transferred from the clip heating pad as well as from the heating body to the hair, the conventional hair curling iron can reduce the time required to curl the hair. In addition, the hair curling iron can curl a relatively large amount of hair at one time.

However, in the conventional hair curling iron, the clip heating pad comes into direct contact with the hair. Therefore, there is a problem in that excessive heat may be transferred to the hair so that the hair may be damaged. Furthermore, the temperature of the compression clip, which comes into direct contact with the hair, may be similar to or greater than the temperature of the heating body. This interferes with hair curling, thus deteriorating the efficiency of the hair curling operation. Moreover, if the clip heating pad contacts the user's body, such as the scalp, during use, the user may be injured. As such, the conventional hair curling iron is problematic in that a safety hazard exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a hair curling iron in which heat is transferred from a compression clip to the hair of a user in an indirect contact manner.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a hair curling iron, including: an iron body, provided with a heating body having a bar shape with a circular cross-section, and a handle coupled to an end of the heating body; and a compression clip assembly provided with a compression clip having an arc cross-section corresponding to an outer surface of the heating body, the compression clip assembly being coupled to the heating body such that the compression clip contacts the outer surface of the heating body. The compression clip assembly includes a clip cover coupled to the compression clip such that a space is defined between the clip cover and the compression clip; and a clip heater inserted into the space defined between the clip cover and the compression clip.

The hair curling iron may further include a wire inlet formed at a predetermined position in the iron body so that a clip heater wire enters the iron body through the wire inlet; and a wire outlet formed at a predetermined position in the iron body so that the clip heater wire, drawn into the iron body, exits the iron body towards the clip heater through the wire outlet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair curling iron, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the hair curling iron of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair curling iron, according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the hair curling iron of FIG. 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the hair curling iron according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an iron body 10 having a bar shape with a circular cross-section, and a compression clip assembly 30 which is coupled to and crosses the iron body 10.

The iron body 10 includes a heating body 20, and a handle 11 which is longitudinally coupled to an end of the heating body 20.

Furthermore, a ceramic heater 21 is installed in the heating body 20.

Both a power switch 12 and a temperature adjusting switch 13 are provided on an intermediate portion of the handle 11. A wire inlet 11 a is formed in a rear end of the handle 11 through which power wires 21 b and 34 b enter the iron body 10.

The power wires 21 b and 34 b pass through the interior of the handle 11 after entering the handle 11 through the wire inlet 11 a, and are connected to the ceramic heater 21 to apply operating voltage to the ceramic heater 21.

The compression clip assembly 30 includes a compression clip 31, a push lever 32 which is parallel to the compression clip 31, and a connection part 35 which couples adjacent ends of the compression clip 31 and the push lever 32 to each other. The compression clip assembly 30 further includes a clip cover 33 which is coupled to the compression clip 31 such that a space 33 a is defined between the clip cover 33 and the compression clip 31 in an arc cross-sectional shape. The compression clip assembly 30 further includes a clip heater 34 which is provided in the space 33 a defined between the clip cover 33 and the compression clip 31, and a stopper 36 which seals the space 33 a defined between the clip cover 33 and the compression clip 31.

The connection part 35 forms a closed loop so that an opening 35 a is defined at a central portion of the connection part 35 by the closed loop.

The power wire 21 b, which is drawn into the iron body 10 through the wire inlet 11 a, passes through the interior of the handle 11, a wire outlet 20 a and the stopper 36 and is connected to the clip heater 34.

The iron body 10 is inserted in the opening 35 a of the connection part 35 of the compression clip assembly 30 having the above-mentioned construction. The compression clip assembly 30 is rotatably coupled to the heating body 20 of the iron body 10 by a pair of coupling bolts such that the compression clip 31 rotates towards and away from the heating body 10.

The usage of the hair curling iron according to the embodiment of the present invention will be explained herein below.

First, a user turns on the power switch 12 to supply power both to the ceramic heater 21 and to the clip heater 34. Then, the heating body 20 and the compression clip 31 are respectively heated by the ceramic heater 21 and the clip heater 34, so that temperatures of the heating body 20 and the compression clip 31 are increased.

When the temperatures of the heating body 20 and the compression clip 31 reach desired temperatures, the user places an appropriate amount of hair between the heating body 20 and the compression clip 31.

Thereafter, the user manipulates the push lever 32 such that the compression clip 31 is brought into contact with the heating body 20. Then, the inserted hairs are held between the heating body 20 and the compression clip 31.

Subsequently, the user maintains the compression clip 31, which contacts the heating body 20, and pulls the hair curling iron in a direction moving away from the user's head.

While the user pulls the hair curling iron in a direction away from the user's head, heat is transferred both from the ceramic heater 21 and from the clip heater 34 to the clipped hairs under predetermined pressure applied by the compression clip 31, thus creating curls in the user's hair. At this time, the hair comes into indirect contact both with the ceramic heater 21 and with the clip heater 34 which serve as heat sources.

As such, because the present invention is provided with the clip cover 33 which defines the space to receive the clip heater 34 along with the compression clip 31, heat is transferred from the clip heater 34 to the user's hair through the compression clip 31. Therefore, the compression clip 31 prevents excessive heat from being transferred from the compression clip assembly 30 to the hair. Thus, the hair is prevented from damage. As well, the present invention is able to increase the efficiency of the curling of the user's hair. In addition, because the clip heater 34 is prevented from directly contacting parts of the user's body, such as the scalp, the possibility of a safety hazard occurring is markedly reduced.

Moreover, in the present invention, the wire inlet 11 a is formed in the handle 11 for entry of the power wire 21 b, which applies operating voltage to the clip heater 34, into the iron body 10. Furthermore, the wire outlet 35 a is formed in the heating body 20. Consequently, an exposed length of the power wire 21 b, supplying operating voltage to the clip heater 34, is minimized.

As described above, the present invention provides a hair curling iron in which heat is transferred from a clip heater to the hair of a user through a compression clip, thus preventing excessive heat from being transferred to the hair, thereby preventing damage to the hair, enhancing the efficiency of the hair curling operation, and preventing a safety hazard.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. 

1. A hair curling iron, comprising: an iron body, provided with a heating body having a bar shape with a circular cross-section, and a handle coupled to an end of the heating body; and a compression clip assembly provided with a compression clip having an arc cross-section corresponding to an outer surface of the heating body, the compression clip assembly being coupled to the heating body such that the compression clip contacts the outer surface of the heating body, wherein the compression clip assembly comprises: a clip cover coupled to the compression clip such that a space is defined between the clip cover and the compression clip; and a clip heater inserted into the space defined between the clip cover and the compression clip.
 2. The hair curling iron as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: a wire inlet formed at a predetermined position in the iron body so that a clip heater wire enters the iron body through the wire inlet; and a wire outlet formed at a predetermined position in the iron body so that the clip heater wire, drawn into the iron body, exits the iron body towards the clip heater through the wire outlet. 